Oscar-winning director James Cameron, known for breaking box office records, is now aiming for underwater dominance. The filmmaker, who's known for his blockbuster hits such as "Titanic" and “Avatar,” is taking the dive of his life into the deepest waters in the world.

He’s hoping to reach Challenger Deep, the deepest known point in the world's oceans, later this month. The site is part of the Mariana Trench near Guam in the western Pacific.

Last week, CNN got rare access inside Cameron’s high-tech single-pilot submersible, the Deepsea Challenger, which was constructed by Cameron and his team of scientists and engineers over the past eight years. Cameron has released little information about the vessel, which was built in Australia.

The director and his team have secretly planned and plotted for five years to send the Deepsea Challenger into the chasm. He has been conducting test dives inside the one-man submersible for several weeks. In a joint scientific project with the National Geographic Society, scientists and engineers have joined Cameron’s team in this deep sea endeavor.

During one of his final test dives for the mission, the filmmaker descended more than 26,000 feet in the Solomon Sea just south of Papua New Guinea.

Outfitted with special cameras and robotic arms, Deepsea Challenger is able to dive vertically at speeds of 500-700 feet per minute and can withstand immense pressure - up to 16,000 pounds per square inch.

When the submersible hatch closes, the temperature inside rises “like a sauna,” said Cameron, who began his descent in shorts and a t-shirt. Later, he layers up, with the temperatures dropping to freezing the further down he goes.

Being uncomfortable and cramped in a small space for hours is well worth it, he said.

"It’s so exciting - every second you see something cool or you've got something to do or you're photographing or you see some amazing fish,"Cameron told CNN.

At more than 10,900 meters (35,800 feet), the Mariana Trench is deeper than Mount Everest is tall, and has had only two previous human visitors. In 1960, U.S. Navy Lt. Don Walsh and the late Swiss explorer Jacques Piccard descended into the deep in the Bathyscaphe Trieste, a deep submersible vessel.

Scientists hope that Challenger Deep will provide insight into many unfamiliar life forms in the depths of the ocean. It is estimated that more than 750,000 marine species have not been formally described in scientific literature over the centuries, triple the number of those that have been. The figures exclude microbes, of which a 2010 marine life census estimates there are up to 1 billion kinds.

It's not the first adventure for Cameron, who has been a lifetime explorer of the sea. It’s a passion he brought to the screen in 1989 with his undersea adventure, "The Abyss," in which oceanographers find alien life at the unexplored depths of the ocean. His interest in the sea also influenced the making of his two highest-grossing movies, "Titanic" (1997) and "Avatar" (2009). In addition to his dive to the Titanic wreck, Cameron's exquisite creatures on the planet Pandora in "Avatar" were inspired by real-life sea creatures seen during his diving ventures.

Two other men are also attempting to reach Challenger Deep: billionaire businessman and adventurer Richard Branson and Patrick Lahey, an experienced submarine pilot.

Last year, Branson announced plans to explore the deepest part of the ocean with his airplane-shaped Virgin Oceanic sub.

"I am planning to go down in the Puerto Rican trench. It goes down further than Everest is high ... about 28,000 feet," Branson said last year. "There have been about 400 people who have been into space but pretty well nobody has been down and explored the big trenches in the oceans."

Lahey, the president of a small central Florida company called Triton Submarines, is also hoping to reach Challenger Deep. Lahey is described on his company's website as "the most experienced civil sub pilot active in the world today."

The nonprofit X-Prize Foundation has announced it will award a $10 million prize to the first person to reach the bottom of the Mariana Trench. Cameron told CNN he’s not interested in competing for this prize, or any other, because his mission is purely about scientific research.

“You know, there’s so much we don’t know,” Cameron told CNN. “I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to study the ocean before we destroy it.”

soundoff(418 Responses)

SoWhat?

Accomplishment??? This is not HIS accomplishment! All he did was throw a bunch of money at engineers to build the submersible, they're the ones that deserve credit. All Cameron has to do is get in and submerge, real tough! This guy is a Dbag!

March 8, 2012 at 11:41 am |

drumcode

Son, I wish you've had balls big enough to JUST submerge down there. Carry on.

March 8, 2012 at 11:50 am |

sielingfan

He's taking all the risk, both monetary and personal. That should earn him some credit.

Besides, he's a member of the Super Adventure Club.

March 8, 2012 at 11:51 am |

derp

Yeah, Columbus didn't do sh!t. It was the guys who built the boat that discovered the new world.

March 8, 2012 at 11:54 am |

JA

I always thought it was rather difficult to discover a new world that already had people living there. Maybe they discovered it !

March 8, 2012 at 12:03 pm |

kebo72

Columbus discovering the "New World" is debatable but what you are getting at makes sense.

March 8, 2012 at 12:12 pm |

Odin

actually there were people here for several thousands of years before Chris and company showed up

March 8, 2012 at 12:50 pm |

racefan111

His idea...his money...and he's risking his own life. What's your problem? Would you rather the govt did this with your tax money?

March 8, 2012 at 11:55 am |

Anonymous2012

And besides, the government is more concerned with funding projects such as fusing butterfly wings onto a mouse to see if it can fly.

March 8, 2012 at 12:48 pm |

CNNReader83

It is his accomplishment and it's a MAJOR accomplishment. It takes desire, money and teamwork to accomplish such a feat. There are considerable risks involved in going to those depths. He is making considerable contributions to science and technology and our understanding of the deep seas. This is what the american spirit is all about and it's a great thing.

March 8, 2012 at 11:55 am |

NorthernDG

James Cameron is a CANADIAN... That's the Canadian spirit you're talking about.

March 8, 2012 at 3:46 pm |

JamieIRL

Haha, pwned.

March 8, 2012 at 5:51 pm |

Barry

Canada IS part of the americas.

March 8, 2012 at 6:32 pm |

Gabe

Hey! I'm guessing you're not the life of the party am I right????

March 8, 2012 at 12:11 pm |

DB5

You seem to have all the idea's. SoWhat do you propose? Sit around your parents basement in your undies playing video games all day long? Cameron and Branson are the ones that will get space tourism off the ground. And Cameron is highly blessed for his imagination because it has led him to this voyage. He gets to be the third human to visit the bottom of the Mariana Trench. And my I remind you that twelve men have been to the moon.

March 8, 2012 at 12:24 pm |

Quetzal785

do you think they would rather bulid it , get paid good money... live their lives without risk ...... OR ... risking dying being that deep into the ocean?

March 8, 2012 at 12:34 pm |

Mark

Go back and think that one over...Truth be told, you sound like an idiot.

March 8, 2012 at 12:40 pm |

Samson

So Steve Jobs didn't accomplish anything either using your argument. He had engineers to. Same would go for all the great military leaders of the past. I mean soldiers were out doing all the work right? James Cameron is a leader and a great one at that and he serves as an inspiration to us all and we can only pray that our children don't end up as a bitter, angry person like you.

March 8, 2012 at 12:41 pm |

Cedar Rapids

actually yeah you are right about Jobs, he just took the credit and everyone swooned at his feet.

March 8, 2012 at 5:26 pm |

Odin

Armstrong was the first man on the moon–name 5 people who built the Apollo/Saturn–can't do it–thought so–peace, love and speed

March 8, 2012 at 12:46 pm |

Uniblob

Yeah, Neil Armstrong was a putz too.

March 8, 2012 at 12:47 pm |

me

So did Neil Armstrong get the credit for being the first man on the moon? or did nasa engineers get the credit for building the space shuttle?

March 8, 2012 at 3:07 pm |

Eleanor

Actually, Cameron is an accomplished inventor in his own right, especially regarding novel imaging devices. Do a little research next time, honey.

March 8, 2012 at 3:11 pm |

Aletheya

Speaking of Dbags, look in a mirror, dude. Perhaps you can regale us with tales of your great accomplishments.

March 8, 2012 at 6:00 pm |

Death To Muggles

I say we send "sowhat" down there........
without the submersible.

March 9, 2012 at 10:20 am |

Patrick

This seems dangerous. Can't he just send a virtual surrogate down there, an avatar, if you will.

March 8, 2012 at 11:40 am |

drumcode

I have a better idea, we should send Boehner and these 4 clowns that are fighting for the White House now.

March 8, 2012 at 11:51 am |

palintwit

Ha ha. That's a good idea just as long as Rick Santorum doesn't release any of his frothy mix into the water.

March 8, 2012 at 12:03 pm |

Colin

Patrick, your comment was AMAZING!!!!! Mad props!

March 8, 2012 at 12:02 pm |

headache

Wow....really? An avatar? Should have just strapped you to an anchor together with the cameras and throw you overboard....sheesh...avatar....

March 8, 2012 at 12:08 pm |

the_dude

What a self-important POS thig guy is. I hope he suffers a major malfunction and gets crushed to death down there. Is this really the best use of your money you made by making crap movies?

March 8, 2012 at 11:39 am |

dan

Really, you hope he dies? Who is the POS?

March 8, 2012 at 11:47 am |

drumcode

Suck on this, dude. 8========D

March 8, 2012 at 11:48 am |

Gabe

I laughed harder than I should have at that...LOL

March 8, 2012 at 12:12 pm |

Shawn

ROFLBO!!!! LOL!

March 8, 2012 at 12:45 pm |

Josh

Drumcode... that should not have made me laugh out loud but it absolutely did. And I agree.
So funny that some people want to put a hate on him. I've been amazed by the Elon Musk haters out there too... these guys are ridiculously rich and could just be sleeping with hot models all day. At least they are trying to do something interesting and innovative. (uh... I mean without the hot models.)

March 8, 2012 at 5:27 pm |

sielingfan

the dude sounds BLUE with envy....

March 8, 2012 at 11:49 am |

in reply to the dude

really? do you know the man? well, i have worked for him and yes, he is very demanding but is he a self important 'pos'???
i hardly think so. in life, if it were not for people like james cameron getting things done and taking the bull by the horns, people like you would shrivel up and die. we would still live in caves and probably would not have discovered fire yet.
anyone who has been to 120' scuba diving can probably understand and marvel at 30000'+.
It takes alot of money and alot of time to pull something like this off. and alot of courage. there is no margin for error. he has got to a point in life where he can do this and I say good for him. to explore the deepest part of the ocean where only 2 men have been before and only had a few very small portholes to look through and compare to now where there will be multiple cameras and also far better pilot vision. the images that are coming will be truly amazing.
hopefully we dont see too many beer cans and plastic bags. jimmy hoffa perhaps?

March 8, 2012 at 12:09 pm |

ISRAEL

GOOD LUCK,CANT WAIT TO C WHAT IS IN

March 8, 2012 at 2:10 pm |

sikwitdis

Wow. You must live a really small life to hope for someone else's death. Why does it concern you that Cameron wants to spend his time and money to do something?

March 8, 2012 at 12:14 pm |

Samson

People like you are the reason this country is sinking to new lows. You're just an angry, bitter, person who can't stand seeing others happy. You hate him because he's a liberal. Just admit it. God, people like you scare the hell out of me.

March 8, 2012 at 12:34 pm |

Aletheya

People like you make me wish the web had never been invented. That way I'd never have to know the ugliness of your thoughts.

March 8, 2012 at 6:04 pm |

Death To Muggles

So your hormones are a mess because you havent reached puberty yet,
and your voice is all squeekey, right ?
Go squeeze some pimples.

March 9, 2012 at 10:25 am |

drumcode

I smell another Avatar.

March 8, 2012 at 11:38 am |

tractrix

Mike deGruy and Andrew Wight were a part of this project, but died in a helicopter crash last month. Would be nice to see them mentioned in an article like this. Mike deGruy was an amazing guy who filmed some of the greatest deep sea stuff ever. CNN should be profiling him, or at least bothering to mention him here.

March 8, 2012 at 11:33 am |

Elvis

Pretty cool site!

http://deepseachallenge.com

March 8, 2012 at 11:31 am |

ItIsToLaugh

It really takes some nads to pull something like this off. I hear Mr. Cameron can be a real pr!ck, but hats off to the courage.

March 8, 2012 at 11:28 am |

lawman

Goodluck, James Cameron. Hopefully, your adventure brings some good news to the world.

March 8, 2012 at 11:21 am |

sielingfan

Meanwhile, in Papau New Guinea, people are literally eating one another...

March 8, 2012 at 10:38 am |

BBoy705

Get rid of your 1930 encyclopedias and check out the Internet. You can find up to date information about Papau New Guinea. They no longer eat people or shrink heads! Incredible huh?

March 8, 2012 at 11:12 am |

sielingfan

Papau does. Parts of it anyway, or at least that's the rumor. Some of the rainforest cannibal tribes are still (rumored to be) in full force, and we can't say any better because we honestly don't know. REGULAR Guinea doesn't eat people, that's absolutely correct, but hey wait a minute, this is the internet..... nevermind. ALL PACIFIC ISLANDERS ARE CANNIBALS LOLOL.

March 8, 2012 at 11:16 am |

sielingfan

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/cannibals.html

March 8, 2012 at 11:17 am |

Boogy Man

They stopped eating people when one of them got sick
and upchucked a republican.

March 9, 2012 at 10:28 am |

Think

Adam needed to fact check before posting this article. There is no X PRIZE for going deep.

February 29, 2012 at 8:02 pm |

fudge bay packers

Or the prostate ;-). Yeah baby!

March 8, 2012 at 2:32 pm |

big no!!!!!

Don't Let them! , They will disturb the Megalodons ,or Megatron. Then we'll have to experience one of two bad movies irl ...NOOOOOO!

February 29, 2012 at 6:59 pm |

suleimanthemagnificent

The dudes that went down in the trench back in 1960 must have had balls the size of blue whales. Metaphorically speaking of course, since obviously they wouldn't have fit in the submersible. But for real.. They could have ran into giant squid or something. Brave guys

February 29, 2012 at 6:57 pm |

Spendlove

What do you get when the Pope goes scuba diving?

February 29, 2012 at 6:05 pm |

Niemoose

The entire ocean becomes holy?

March 8, 2012 at 1:14 pm |

cyclinchris

Holy diver!

March 8, 2012 at 4:17 pm |

Carl, Secaucus, NJ

It is possible that there could be dangerous waste down there, as someone suggested...but I doubt most dumpers would go to any special trouble to try and pitch it straight down the Mariana Trench, when just the average depth of the Pacific is 14,000 feet, and that ocean is so big you could literally sink all the land on Earth beneath it. You can dump stuff just about anywhere in the Pacific and it's not likely to ever be found.

What if there is flowing volcanic lava or an earthquake at those increadible pressures. That little thing they a using to get down there will sink into that lava or be broken into its own and cameroon peaces.

We know more about the moon than we do the oceans. Cameron's previous deep ocean explorations and discoveries of new life were fascinating. The oceans are literally the life blood for all life on earth. Unfortunately, mankind seems intent on destroying the oceans and critical ocean life as fast as possible. Any new discoveries that we can make about the oceans and ocean life is important for the future of the earth. I love it that Cameron is doing this, and can't wait to see what he finds.

February 29, 2012 at 4:57 pm |

Bill

When they get the the bottom there will probably be a Walmsrt.

February 29, 2012 at 4:42 pm |

bruce

BRING PLENTY OF TOILET PAPER

February 29, 2012 at 4:51 pm |

superplus

I just hope he doesn't bring up pathogenic bacteria that will wipe out half the human population – which wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing after all.

February 29, 2012 at 4:35 pm |

Guamanian

It's MARIANAS TRENCH. The author of this article needs to do his research.

February 29, 2012 at 4:31 pm |

urmomlol

NO U!

February 29, 2012 at 4:32 pm |

urmomlol

Why can we not bomb and explore at the same time? How else are we supposed to find new things to bomb?

February 29, 2012 at 4:38 pm |

Hojo

It's both, shut it. Located next to the Mariana islands, named for the Queen Mariana, so it can be both. Do YOUR research.

February 29, 2012 at 4:44 pm |

JC

Actually either are acceptable as both are used...

February 29, 2012 at 4:45 pm |

Boogy Man

When he gets to the bottom he is going to find a....
"NO TRESSPASSING" sign.

March 9, 2012 at 10:34 am |

jeremy

Seriously I agree with someone back there about gov. start exploring and stop bombing. Stop bashing and start inspiring. Stop clawing for more power and control and seek some mutual understanding. Sorry ya'll I've been watching too much Star Trek recently.

February 29, 2012 at 4:31 pm |

Mark

who cares what is down there. it isn't going to help mankind. these selfish adventurists would rather spend their money exploring something that doesn't benefit humanity. with all the problems in the world why don't they give money to researcher to find cures for diseases like cancer. i would rather read headlines that they donated millions to worthwhile causes. It is all about their egos.

February 29, 2012 at 4:30 pm |

CS

Actually Mark the Ocean provides most of the oxygen you breath and is a new and novel source of anti cancer compounds from sponges.

February 29, 2012 at 4:43 pm |

JC

I'm sure they initially said the same thing about space exploration...

February 29, 2012 at 4:47 pm |

Papa Rich

How do you know they haven't donated millions? Branson donates millions every year. Do you know how much technology was created by the creation of NASA and going to the moon? You have know idea what they will find and what technology will be created in the process to help out mankind. Don't be so close minded.

February 29, 2012 at 4:49 pm |

Truth Hurts

What Mr. Cameron chooses to spend his money on is his business. Expanding human knowledge does in fact benefit humanity silly. We've already found in deep crevices bacteria really good at eating human waste and radiation. If we can find others that can solve other problems great. But if we find a new type of crab, I for one would also be excited.

February 29, 2012 at 5:08 pm |

sikwitdis

...and another small-minded mouthbreather is exposed.

March 8, 2012 at 12:18 pm |

math

Actually, mark, scientific exploration is priceless, unlike trowing money at a bunch of out of work rednecks. Thank you for giving us the provincial oaf's point of view.

March 8, 2012 at 1:31 pm |

Kerry

James Cameron is a true pioneer, treading a path untraveled. Looking forward to anything he does. Always an innovator.

February 29, 2012 at 4:23 pm |

Jon5656

I liked this movie idea better when it was called "THE ABYSS"

February 29, 2012 at 4:15 pm |

Bruce

I keep reading all those remarks people made and some are really stupid. I am glad that James Cameron is going down so far into the ocean deep, and hope he finds new form of life, which I know he will. Maybe he will find some form of life or something that benefit all mankind. I wish him the best and all those who go with him, for I am sure he isn't going alone.

February 29, 2012 at 4:12 pm |

Bruce, you're an idiot

You need to learn how to read Bruce. While he is competing with a couple other filthy rich guys, they are not going with him. They will not be travelling at the same time. The race is to see who makes and completes the journey first. There is no start and finish line.

Also, the fact that he is making the trip in a ONE MAN IMMERSIBLE kind of prevents anyone from going with him.

February 29, 2012 at 4:36 pm |

Jdub

and you need to Chill Out! Geez!

February 29, 2012 at 4:44 pm |

jllyblly

You are the IDIOT! He will be reaching the bottom alone but he will not be the only one under the water do your research before posting.

He may be the only one on the SUBMERSIBLE but I'm sure he has a whole team of scientists working with hom oon this one.

March 8, 2012 at 6:12 pm |

Boogy Man

Bruce, you're an idiot
S T F U !

March 9, 2012 at 10:37 am |

BunnyFooFoo

I hope they don't disturb Cthulhu's eons-long slumber. That would be bad.

February 29, 2012 at 4:10 pm |

midnightsteel

Why is this historic and its already been done? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Walsh

February 29, 2012 at 4:05 pm |

boomhaha

its been done ONCE. do the math. what else on this planet has only been done once. been to the moon more times. tarded

February 29, 2012 at 4:08 pm |

Robert

3D cameras and the chance of going a slightly different path and discovering something new makes this historic.

February 29, 2012 at 4:12 pm |

JC

Did you read the article? It clearly states it's been done twice (Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard). Still, twice is nothing. As was mentioned, ~400 people have been in space but only two have been to this location. Factor in there are up to 1 billion undiscovered microbes and 750k undiscovered species and it's obvious we still have a lot to learn and find. Who knows what the research from his samples may yield...

February 29, 2012 at 4:55 pm |

Ocean Explorer

Think you need to read the article again, it has been done once. By 2 persons in the bathyscaphe Trieste.

If Jesus had wanted us to know what was on the bottom of the ocean, he would have told us when he wrote the bible!

February 29, 2012 at 4:03 pm |

fred

It's sad you were the fastest one who made it to the egg; even more sad the best one dripped down your mom's leg.

February 29, 2012 at 4:32 pm |

urmomlol

Trolololololololol

February 29, 2012 at 4:34 pm |

Clint, Wa.

Maybe while he is down there he could do an interview with Osama Bin Laden.

February 29, 2012 at 4:00 pm |

Michael

Cameron and Branson – two mega-rich people who do not need to work and have all the time AND money in the world to do anything they want.

February 29, 2012 at 3:54 pm |

intothemoonbeam

Maybe so, but at least they are putting their money to something worthwhile and not sitting here complaning and doing nothing.

February 29, 2012 at 4:01 pm |

intothemoonbeam

*complaining

February 29, 2012 at 4:02 pm |

boomhaha

collecting samples for scientists to study, not having our taxes pay for it through grants.... horrible idea. it's good that they contribute to humanity a lot more than others.

February 29, 2012 at 4:06 pm |

Ross

Good for them!!! What's wrong with having money? I hear this cry more and more. Lucky them!!!!

February 29, 2012 at 4:12 pm |

Ross

Nothing wrong with being millionaires. Good for them!!!!! I see more and more envy...

February 29, 2012 at 4:17 pm |

Heffi

The reason they're filthy rich is that they work harder, smarter and better than their critics.

March 8, 2012 at 12:41 pm |

Popi

I'm willing to bet those two worked harder in life than you ever thought about.

March 8, 2012 at 2:56 pm |

Kill The Wabbit

And you contribute what ?
Snot on your keyboard ?

March 9, 2012 at 10:40 am |

STLBroker

I hear Branson and Hefner are teaming up to put a Playboy resort in outer space. So I guess next will be a Playboy resort in the Mirana Trench. Looking for a good punch line here.......maybe..."Can we sink any lower as a race".

February 29, 2012 at 3:52 pm |

pmangr

No wonder Newt plans on a moon-base! He wants to visit that playboy club out of reach from his current wife and get some!

February 29, 2012 at 4:11 pm |

D_man

If he does this as well as he makes films, he'll find a tin can and some plastic garbage.

February 29, 2012 at 3:45 pm |

sikwitdis

...right next to your reply. Love them or hate them, his movies did one thing well – make truckloads of cash.

March 8, 2012 at 12:59 pm |

Jay

"Two and a half miles...straight down!"

I wonder if he's looking for Little Geek, and that disarmed warhead....

February 29, 2012 at 3:32 pm |

Jeff

That is 6.83 miles straight down.

February 29, 2012 at 3:41 pm |

Odin

closer to 7 actually

February 29, 2012 at 3:42 pm |

Jenn

Actually, he's making a funny reference to Cameron's "The Abyss".

February 29, 2012 at 4:12 pm |

Kill The Wabbit

Virgil Brinkman back on line..........
have some new friends.

March 9, 2012 at 10:44 am |

pickleman77

Now if we could just convince Michael Bay to strap himself to a missile and blow himself up in order to research HIS next film, we'd all be better off.

February 29, 2012 at 3:30 pm |

Mark

You win! Hilarious!

February 29, 2012 at 4:09 pm |

SmartGuy

who cares what rich people do when you have no food to eat

February 29, 2012 at 3:24 pm |

intothemoonbeam

We need research like this Smart Guy, if we didn't do research like this you wouldn't have a computer connected to the internet to complain on.

February 29, 2012 at 3:28 pm |

AJ

you dont have any food?

February 29, 2012 at 3:30 pm |

intothemoonbeam

Yeah apparently he has no food but he has a computer connected to the internet. He really is a Smart Guy isn't he?

February 29, 2012 at 3:32 pm |

Johnny Rotten

So people with money shouldn't do what they want because "you" have no food??....Sell your computer and maybe you can eat.

February 29, 2012 at 3:35 pm |

RH

Or more like sell your computer and feed those who really have no food.

February 29, 2012 at 3:53 pm |

Karl Stanley

Note to author- the x-prize is "under consideration" not an actual award- I know 10 million probably doesn't mean that much to Cameron- but you should still check your facts

February 29, 2012 at 3:16 pm |

OhGod!

I'm just sad that all we can do is just type a whole bunch of dumb nonsense while people like Cameron and Branson are actually out there and doing these things. I wish we would stop the bs talk and get motivated to do these things ourselves, instead of relying on a couple of Billionaires to do it for us. What happened to American Pioneerism? Are there anymore Wright Bros out there? What a shame.

You may now begin bashing me...

February 29, 2012 at 3:16 pm |

intothemoonbeam

No bashing here, I agree with you.

February 29, 2012 at 3:21 pm |

pickleman77

I know what you mean, but the problem is that it takes people with vast amounts of money to make it to these places. We'd all love to be pioneers in the classic sense, but it's not like Lewis and Clark where they simply plowed through the wilderness. The last frontiers are very elusive, and very very expensive, to reach.

February 29, 2012 at 3:26 pm |

Boo

If our government would stop spending money on stupid wars, stuff like this could be done. Just like when NASA was big and had a great space program. All this stupid country knows how to do is go to war. Can't build anything worth a crap anymore. Our educational system, healthcare system and infrastructure is crap but we can bomb the hell out of anybody.

February 29, 2012 at 3:37 pm |

LaughingMatter

Cheers!!! Good Post!!!! Glad someone finally said it!

February 29, 2012 at 3:28 pm |

Dr. Hans Zarkov

This could be the most intelligent post I have ever read on the dumbnet. This country loves war. We love to bomb people, and try to democratize the world. Please for the love of God could we have one year where we are not at war? I sometimes wish I lived in Switzerland. The next time you drive over an unsafe road or bridge, buy another product made in China or watch another dumb American on a quiz show, you can thank the trillions of dollars we waste on the next war. Lets put all our money in a country that needs it the most, THE USA!! Class dismissed.

March 8, 2012 at 8:57 pm |

Boo

I agree with you too.

February 29, 2012 at 3:33 pm |

poop on you

i feel pretty safe in this country!

February 29, 2012 at 3:53 pm |

Alan

I could not agree with you more. Amen Brother!!

February 29, 2012 at 3:41 pm |

Menos

What's stopping you? Money? Nonsense. Just stow away on a ship that is passing by Quam, take a very long and deep breath, and then jump overboard once your over the Mariana Trench with the ships anchor tied to your waste. Eventually, some dust sized remnant of your former self will make it down to the bottom.

February 29, 2012 at 3:42 pm |

Odin

there are a few left–like the guy who wants to ride a balloon up to 120,000 feet and jump–expects to go supersonic in freefall

February 29, 2012 at 3:50 pm |

urmomlol

Yeah, I'll just hop into my personal submarine and get right on that.

February 29, 2012 at 4:15 pm |

Keel Hauler

You were the ones, there is no doubt
You ate it up and spit it out
You were the ones, you made it clear, you could take it
We are the sons of the pioneers (we are the sons of pioneers)
The day has come, our fate is clear
We're the sons of the pioneers
Sons of the pioneers (sons of the pioneers)
We're not afraid to try (we're not afraid to try)
Sons of the pioneers (sons of the pioneers)
Men not afraid of fear

What's the point of going on, if you
feel that it couldn't be done?
Cause I just wanna understand, freedom's the soul of a man
Won't you look and see now, and show me how

We have the chance, there is no doubt
We'll pick it up, and see it out
We are the ones, you made it clear, we can take it
We are the sons of the pioneers (we are the sons of pioneers)
The day has come, the way is clear
For the sons of the pioneers

Lyrics from "Sons of the Pioneers" by April Wine

February 29, 2012 at 4:18 pm |

Kill The Wabbit

You wont need that silver dollar, no more
not anymore.

March 9, 2012 at 10:48 am |

June McKnight

No bashing from me. I think what you said was "right on". It shocks me so many people have been so ignorant, hateful and mean. Thought I was on CNN site, not the enquirer. Where did all the intelligent people go?

March 8, 2012 at 4:51 pm |

fofo

This is the difference between a liberal millionaire and a conservative millionaire. The liberal spends his money on science and research, whereas the conservative, spends it on an adulterous candidate.

February 29, 2012 at 3:11 pm |

nambi

100% correct.

It's pleasing to see a rick man use his money for society instead of self interest of getting richer.

February 29, 2012 at 3:14 pm |

Steve-O

Nambi, you either meant to type "rich" or "dick" of which both is equally suitable to describe the arrogant Mr. Cameron.

February 29, 2012 at 3:24 pm |

Sean

You my sir, are stupid. Do you realize how many smart Republicians who have donated, not just FINANCED, but actually donated to cancer research (Like those Koch brothers you hate so much...) and a host of other "humanity" causes? You show your ignorance by supporting a film maker who invests in only the things that will achieve him "fame" and fortune. When was the last time Cameron gave away HIS wealth to fund something for the human race? Your the exact reason I hate liberals...

February 29, 2012 at 3:22 pm |

intothemoonbeam

Scientific research is one of the best things anyone can do for the Human Race. If I had James Cameron kind of money it would all be going towards Space Exploration.

February 29, 2012 at 3:25 pm |

You're Clueless

Published tax returns for Presidential Candidates from the 2008 elections say it all: the Obama's gave less than 1% of their income to charity; the Biden's gave less than 0.25%; the Palin's gave 7% while the McCain's gave over 28% of their income to charity. Overall, benevolent and charitable giving, as borne out by federal tax returns that have been published and also the data the IRS releases do not support your claim. Democrats DO spend OPM (Other People's Money), but they generally do NOT spend their own...not when it comes to really helping other people. Get your facts straight.

February 29, 2012 at 3:43 pm |

intothemoonbeam

So? How much did they give to Scientific Research? The reason this country is lagging behind the rest of the world is because we are too busy listening to bible thumpers like Santorum and ignoring how important Science and Education is. And I'm not just blaming conservaties here I'm not happy at all with Obama's recent presidential budget which called for both cuts in Education and NASA. Education and NASA should NEVER have any cuts because they are investments in our future.

February 29, 2012 at 3:51 pm |

Jason

I wouldn't count giving money to a church as donating to charity, it is just helping churches build bigger churches...

February 29, 2012 at 4:03 pm |

Kill The Wabbit

Tax shelters do not make you charitable.

March 9, 2012 at 10:51 am |

HA25

Only a left-wing liberal rabit moonbat turns something like this into a stereotype of liberal vs. conservative 'good deeds'.

Science and Leadership are both needed for our country to stay at it's peak. Current political leadership on all sides is failing.

February 29, 2012 at 4:52 pm |

disagreement

Watch out for MegaShark while your down there

February 29, 2012 at 3:06 pm |

Steve-O

Marianas Trench is a terrific rock band. You should check them out.

February 29, 2012 at 3:04 pm |

Dave Williams

Hope your wearing your yellow and blue today.

February 29, 2012 at 3:01 pm |

Dean

Have you seen the preview? It looks pretty bad. I like the James Cameron story, but if I had the opportunity I'd create one killer movie and thats it, because they always go looking for that other big movie and it just don't happen.

February 29, 2012 at 2:58 pm |

Ted

James Cameron is a brilliant visionary. He lost the Oscar to ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow, partly for political reasons, and she while a good director, is nowhere near the imaginative thinker that Cameron represents. Cameron redefines, Bigelow follows.

February 29, 2012 at 3:06 pm |

CT

Ted – it's OK to wipe off your mouth now – James has a smile on his face.

February 29, 2012 at 3:52 pm |

JimmyJam

There have been other visits to the bottom of the trench. Westinghouse was a defense contractor that built the bathescape (sic) and made numerous trips there. I know this because my father-in-law was part of this team. A lot of the team members were former Underwater Demolitions Team (Navy UDT) members. These brave men were basically guinea pigs because they did NOT know how deep they could go without the hull being crushed by the tremendous pressure. I have pictures of him posing next to the unit. He also dived with Jacque Cousteau on the Calypso. What a fascintaing life he has had!

February 29, 2012 at 2:58 pm |

bonez2

I call BS on this one, engineers can do math, they know structural and metal densities, etc. They could easily calculate the failure point on a hull to a few hundred feet.
Why do u think submarines have test depths versus design depths?

Yep, we would all be so much better off if the government confiscated all of the money rich people have, so they wouldn't "waste it".
How about we just confiscate all income peopple make that is above the average and give it to those below the average – so then we would all have exactly the same amount. Gee, wouldn't that be wonderful?

February 29, 2012 at 3:01 pm |

Alaska

What's ure point ?

February 29, 2012 at 3:02 pm |

LaughingMatter

No!! the first one didn't work and you still tried again? and FAILED! Did you ever think this could fix some disease, or make something less expensive for research??? Maybe it would create jobs. Brilliant! Please post resume below:

February 29, 2012 at 3:03 pm |

palintwit

You again? How'd you like to be grounded for a week?

February 29, 2012 at 3:09 pm |

intothemoonbeam

It's called research and this country needs more of it.

February 29, 2012 at 3:13 pm |

Truth-Bomb Thrower

So your point is there should be no exploration or advances in knowledge as long as there are any poor people–most of which are poor because of their own stupidity and laziness. Let me guess–you're an Obama supporter. Right?

February 29, 2012 at 3:29 pm |

anothermoment

Actually he is an Anti-Obama, "Tea Party Supporter" Because his first post was, "another complete waste of tax dollars on pointless scientific research." oops

February 29, 2012 at 3:52 pm |

noel

let'do the world a favor and deposit obama there to rest w/ the other bottom dwelling fish like osama...OBAMANOS!!!

February 29, 2012 at 2:54 pm |

bonez2

Better put that Jack Daniels down... and I am confiscating those keys.

February 29, 2012 at 3:21 pm |

Boo

I have a better idea....let's dump you there instead....fish food....

February 29, 2012 at 3:34 pm |

ficheye

OK. Branson called it the 'Puerto Rican trench', which is really strange. It's near to the Philippines, not Puerto Rico. Are they going to the same place? And I don't care about whether or not you like James Cameron... he's going to go down almost 7 miles in a SINGLE PERSON submersible. I don't know about you, but you couldn't pay me to do that, no matter how 'high tech' the submarine is. I applaud his efforts and hope that Branson knows where his final destination is....

February 29, 2012 at 2:51 pm |

Glenn

Branson was talking about a different trench from Cameron. Although the Puerto Rican trench is probably just a warmup for his attempt on the Mariannas. The article was a bit confusing though.

February 29, 2012 at 3:04 pm |

Matt

First off if you actually read the article he was talking about testing it in the Puerto Rican trench. Which is the 6th deepest known in the world at 28,000 feet. The Challenger deep is over 35,000 feet. So he meant that it could be used to test it out. CHECK YOUR FACTS IDIOT

February 29, 2012 at 3:21 pm |

dinak

I wonder how much energy he will use on this new pet project?

February 29, 2012 at 2:50 pm |

(required)

Atomic split?

February 29, 2012 at 5:33 pm |

Brian

In other related news: JAMES CAMERON DIES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN! Haha he'll sink faster than one of his "box office" hits. Avatar, really!? C'mon James at least call it what it is, Pochontas with blue things, or Dances with Smurfs.

February 29, 2012 at 2:49 pm |

Fiona

Best video spoof of Avatar on YouTube is a guy singing, " I'm blue...I got a girlfriend, she blue too...". I hated that film.

February 29, 2012 at 2:54 pm |

Fiona

Just pick up after you're done, James. There's far too much "film it and trash it" going on in the movie biz. Remember the adage, "leave no footprints."

February 29, 2012 at 2:49 pm |

Hopeless

I hope the dialog will be as REM-inducing as his last foray into the deep. "Wow!" "That's so cool!" "Amazing!" All the while lacking any substantive information about what's being shown.

This isn't news. It's an ad.

February 29, 2012 at 2:46 pm |

Ladybird

Cameron plagiarized the Avatar script from Pou Anderson's 1950"s sci-fi short story, "Call me Joe", down to the big blue aliens. Whose story is he going to conveniently "forget" that he borrowed for his new film?

February 29, 2012 at 2:45 pm |

Spock

The rest of the Avatar plot – natives against big bad military types – came from "Dances with Wolves".

February 29, 2012 at 2:56 pm |

b

And "Dances with Wolves" stole the natives vs. big bad military types idea from reality ... when it actually happened.

February 29, 2012 at 3:03 pm |

Jerry-Laurer

LOL oh please. James never stole anything. You people act like its completely impossible to have similar ideas with other folks. If he stole it why didn't the person come forward (like every other tool that said he stole the idea) BEFORE the movie made tons of cash? well... your smart ladybird... figure it out

February 29, 2012 at 2:57 pm |

Jerry-Laurer

Now were down to PARTS of the movie being stolen LMAO.. Heck I guess James just took parts of every movie imaginable and created his own movie out of it. If you think hes the only person to think of blue aliens and aliens on another planet fighting human military then you need to get your head checked

February 29, 2012 at 3:00 pm |

disagreement

OK the plot in Avatar was of no importance. The story of an innocent land being taken over by military forces has been done to death. The point was to show off the CGI.

March 8, 2012 at 12:15 pm |

Deepy_Dive

Here is a good idea: Take the Kardashians along.

February 29, 2012 at 2:44 pm |

Fiona

But chumming is frowned upon these days, Deepy_Dive.

February 29, 2012 at 2:51 pm |

SmartGuy

another complete waste of tax dollars on pointless scientific research.

February 29, 2012 at 2:34 pm |

palintwit

It's being PRIVATELY funded idiot. Now get back under your bed. No dinner for you tonight.

February 29, 2012 at 2:37 pm |

Henry

Excellent. I love reading through comment threads to watch smart people stomp on stupid people. Normally I'd read through the entire thing, but that was an awesome stomp, you saved me an hour of time. Cheers.

February 29, 2012 at 2:44 pm |

LaughingMatter

OMG! That was so funny!!!! I still can't stop laughing!!! Beyond Priceless, considering the name "SmartGuy". gofigure...

February 29, 2012 at 2:48 pm |

(required)

This SmartGuy is being trampled and stampeded!

February 29, 2012 at 5:37 pm |

The Goblin

OOPS. Not so smart, are ya.

February 29, 2012 at 2:43 pm |

JayNYC

Well, besides the fact that no tax dollars are being used, what if the cure for cancer is down there?

I do not think Branson or Cameron need outside financial assistance to pursue this exploration. This is not government funded. So, actually it is not costing tax payers anything.

February 29, 2012 at 2:51 pm |

get someone

Have Mommy read it to you again. I think you went nite nite when she read it to you the first time.

February 29, 2012 at 3:18 pm |

Boo

You really are a neanderthal, aren't you?

February 29, 2012 at 3:39 pm |

Kill The Wabbit

DumbGuy

another complete waste of tax dollars on pointless scientific research.

March 9, 2012 at 11:02 am |

cured76

It'll be worrying if Branson decides to build an underwater city and name it Rapture.

February 29, 2012 at 2:33 pm |

Byrd

Have a good time exploring the Deep. I'm certain that a most spectacular show awaits you.

February 29, 2012 at 2:33 pm |

Byrd

...and don't forget to leave the camera on, Cameron. We wouldn't want to miss a single Thing.

February 29, 2012 at 2:36 pm |

palintwit

Sarah Palin would forget to take the lens cap off.

February 29, 2012 at 2:45 pm |

lolarites

I can't think of a better place for Cameron to be than the bottom of the ocean.

February 29, 2012 at 2:27 pm |

michaelwg

He might find the cure for obesity down there.
salad.

February 29, 2012 at 2:26 pm |

Brady

This AINT NEWS ! Aint worth a line.

February 29, 2012 at 2:40 pm |

Uniblob

Jebus, I hope so.

March 8, 2012 at 12:49 pm |

Richard

Tell that left-wing enviroGOOF that he was beaten to the punch by 47 years.

February 29, 2012 at 2:24 pm |

Odin

so 1960 was 47 years ago?

February 29, 2012 at 2:46 pm |

Richard

I ball-parked it. Cameron is a clown, hasn't been the same director since Avatar, an anti-American piece of junk.

February 29, 2012 at 2:47 pm |

Kevin

Hello Richard? Ya, this is reality. Please put down your PBR and get a job.

February 29, 2012 at 3:05 pm |

Kill The Wabbit

Did you crap your pants again ?
You smell terrible.

March 9, 2012 at 11:06 am |

Thomas

That is so cool! I love hearing about this stuff! The article makes a great point that nobody has ever explored this area. I can't wait to hear about what comes from exploring the Challenger Deep. Maybe James Cameron will make a blockbuster out of this story or adventures down there. Very awesome!

February 29, 2012 at 2:22 pm |

Brady

Oh "awesome y'self, nitwitski !

February 29, 2012 at 2:41 pm |

T

Probably find SEAQUEST DSV sub down there along with the SEAVIEW....(LOL).

February 29, 2012 at 2:20 pm |

Uniblob

Did you really laugh out loud at that comment? Really?

March 8, 2012 at 12:50 pm |

crabman

if he is just lookin to spend money he could help me out l o l

February 29, 2012 at 2:20 pm |

NephilimFree

The Noachian Flood is a geologic fact. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, gain size distribution of deep sedimentary strata covering the earth, folded mountains with sediments sea shells on top (not destroyed by erosion in "millions of yrs), steep edges of the continrental shelves, upper and lower paleocurrents in the continents, fossil record (rapidly buried creatures), rate of continental and coastal erosion, shallow deep ocean sediments, and other evidences prove the flood and uniformitarianism false.

February 29, 2012 at 2:20 pm |

Steven

Well folks, looks like we got ourselves a troll here!

February 29, 2012 at 2:56 pm |

Kill The Wabbit

So i can stop being mad at noah for forgetting the Unicorns ?

March 9, 2012 at 11:08 am |

jim

wonder if he will find remains of Atlantis and or Lemura ?

February 29, 2012 at 2:18 pm |

Criddler

Not going to survive and will not be heard from again... thats the prediction...or it will be a miserable failure if they do surivive... Megaladon is waiting for its next victim.

February 29, 2012 at 2:16 pm |

Liz

I was thinking the same thing....kinda like that other guy that set off in a balloon...only to vanish and eventually die.

February 29, 2012 at 2:21 pm |

Dorothy Gale

You mean the Wizard?

February 29, 2012 at 2:27 pm |

woops

this is front page news?

CNN is a jack off.

February 29, 2012 at 2:15 pm |

Brady

Why is CNN is running this bs?

February 29, 2012 at 2:43 pm |

Boo

So idiots like you ask dumb questions...

February 29, 2012 at 3:41 pm |

(required)

I don't think you know what that phrase means.

February 29, 2012 at 5:30 pm |

the_dude

I predict they will find a fully functioning society down there that is not tolerant of gays or liberals.

February 29, 2012 at 1:58 pm |

LuisWu

Yes, they will be fat, old and stupid.

February 29, 2012 at 2:03 pm |

medical student

we can find that already just visit any trailer park in alabama

February 29, 2012 at 2:05 pm |

med student my a$$

You are so much better than everyone else aren't you? That's why you just HAD to tell us you were a...a...Med Student! Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now go and change a bedpan you turd.

February 29, 2012 at 2:25 pm |

cja

"fully functioning society" and "not tolerant" are contradicting terms, you can't have both at the same time.

February 29, 2012 at 2:20 pm |

palintwit

Yes. Amphibious teabaggers, living in high pressure double-wide trailers.

February 29, 2012 at 2:24 pm |

michaelwg

cancer cells function as well. We just find their function to be irritating.

February 29, 2012 at 2:24 pm |

Kill The Wabbit

I predict you will say something stupid in your next post.
After all, you are attention starved.

March 9, 2012 at 11:14 am |

MannyDanny44

At 35,800 feet there is over 1085 atmospheres of pressure, translating to 16,000 lbs\sq in, or 2.3 million pounds of pressure per square foot. Hard to believe any man-made submarine could withstand that kind of pressure. Pretty amazing. And I'd say it takes guts to put yourself in that kind of situation. The GOOD news is that, if something DID give at that depth, the implosion would be so fast and total you'd never feel it.

February 29, 2012 at 1:57 pm |

Niklas

Really cool! 35900 ft down is amazing! IMAX film I hope?

February 29, 2012 at 1:56 pm |

Really

""The Abyss," in which oceanographers find alien life at the unexplored depths of the ocean." I thought they were deep sea oil drillers. Gotta love the fact checkers.

February 29, 2012 at 1:54 pm |

CT

The story isn't wrong. There were both oceanographers and deep sea oil drillers in the movie. You have to map the sea floor before you can drill it.

February 29, 2012 at 2:18 pm |

Busted

what? you may want to see the movie again.

February 29, 2012 at 2:25 pm |

ficheye

I just read the synopsis and it said the move was about a nuclear submarine that crashed and was being checked out by a high-tech submersible. Your simplification of the plot shows that you don't know any more than the writers of this article.

February 29, 2012 at 2:41 pm |

cptpooppants

Let me guess "Snorks the Movie" lmao

February 29, 2012 at 1:49 pm |

Nunya Bid Ness

Didn't he and Vincent Chase already do this?

February 29, 2012 at 1:40 pm |

Kash

Best comment of the day ; )

February 29, 2012 at 2:08 pm |

palintwit

They will find the remains of an ancient specie of amphibious teabaggers when they get down there.

February 29, 2012 at 1:27 pm |

Dennis

...whose civilization far surpasses any in earth's history (obviously since they're able to live where we have yet been unable to explore).

February 29, 2012 at 1:47 pm |

Jay

If there was a very advanced civilization, they would most likely be liberal, since advancement requires the ability to adapt to new things. And they most likely would be socialist, since groups can accomplish a lot more than the individual.

February 29, 2012 at 2:29 pm |

peterr

They are doing this through sheer boredom. When you are rich, you have everything you can buy, except maybe happiness. So why not do something others can't afford to do.

February 29, 2012 at 1:17 pm |

Eshpigmenou

What's a Pigmenou?

February 29, 2012 at 1:25 pm |

longtooth

I think it's a form of santorum.

February 29, 2012 at 3:02 pm |

xmxm

I don't know about you but money makes me really happy.

February 29, 2012 at 1:55 pm |

Umm

They're doing this because it's amazing. They're ABLE to do it because they're rich. It's different.

February 29, 2012 at 1:56 pm |

Eshpigmenou

Eshpigmenou is funding all of this.

-Eshpig

February 29, 2012 at 1:05 pm |

Badly-Bent

TRBS – The Really Big Squeeze!

February 29, 2012 at 1:04 pm |

bails

I would go but I'm afraid of the dark.

February 29, 2012 at 1:04 pm |

mb2010a

I would go...but I can't swim. Especially from 7 miles down...

February 29, 2012 at 1:19 pm |

palintwit

Totally agree.

February 29, 2012 at 1:03 pm |

t

Good, hopefully we won't hear from him for a long, long time.

February 29, 2012 at 1:03 pm |

FSM7

The Marianas Trench is in the North Pacific Ocean...why do people assume everything in the Pacific is in the "South Pacific"?

February 29, 2012 at 12:56 pm |

MIT

Maybe we'll find some unobtainium

February 29, 2012 at 12:44 pm |

Duane

I wonder if OBL is down in that trench......give him the finger as you go down

February 29, 2012 at 12:30 pm |

Leviathlon

Actually this where the American governemnt disposed of some of the material that was radioactiveafter roswell in area 51

February 29, 2012 at 2:01 pm |

Pete

Say hi to Leap Day William.

February 29, 2012 at 12:23 pm |

Bob

LOL Start your crying for candy!

February 29, 2012 at 12:33 pm |

Stephanie

Everyone wears yellow and blue and if you’re lucky, Leap Day William visits. He’s from the Mariana Trench, and every four years he emerges to trade children’s tears for candy.

February 29, 2012 at 3:31 pm |

superplus

I got dibs on the first mermaid they find.

February 29, 2012 at 12:22 pm |

M

The Marianas are in the western Central Pacific. Not all islands in the Pacific are in the 'South.'

February 29, 2012 at 12:21 pm |

david

he mentioned the Blue Avatar aliens where inspired by findings on other deep sea dives?...You mean he has seen Sea Monkeys!!.....LOOOOOL....In all seriousness wish him the best of luck.

February 29, 2012 at 12:16 pm |

ADF

Was that supposed to be funny? It wasn't. Just trying to help.

February 29, 2012 at 1:56 pm |

Kimberly Welch

Why doesn't he make a movie about this!! – fantastic book – Der Schwarm or The Swarm (Schatzing) about the same topic.

February 29, 2012 at 12:16 pm |

Tiger2Jim

The pressure at the bottom of the Mariana trench is almost 16,000 psi. If anything goes wrong, it will go wrong in a hurry! The Trieste's pressure vessel, an 8' diameter sphere, had walls that were about 12 inches thick. This is a very dangerous expedition, no matter what anyone says.

February 29, 2012 at 12:15 pm |

Livin' Legend

Is Bill Paxton going with?

February 29, 2012 at 12:13 pm |

Jaque

Now all the underpaid, under appreciated, doctoral marine scientists and ocean ecologists can retire. We got James Cameron on the job!

February 29, 2012 at 12:12 pm |

Geoff

As an underpaid, under-appreciated recently graduated doctoral student in marine science, this hits pretty close to home. Ha!

February 29, 2012 at 1:57 pm |

BootsC

Inner space is truly the last frontier. I am envious of the fortunate few who have been able to descend to the depths of our oceans. I look forward to hearing the results of your findings.

February 29, 2012 at 12:04 pm |

Dustin

Need a hand? I volunteer to go down there. Count me in.

February 29, 2012 at 12:02 pm |

evan

this has been done before, in 1960. i don't see why its such a difficult task now in 2012

February 29, 2012 at 12:01 pm |

c

I for one would like to see how new tech stuff works,

February 29, 2012 at 12:12 pm |

Tim

more people have been on the moon than the bottom of the ocean.

February 29, 2012 at 12:20 pm |

daftshadow

It's the money. Plus a lot of people do not think it is worth exploring the deep ocean. Only a hand full of people like Cameron do care and who have a lot money to invest into this.

February 29, 2012 at 1:03 pm |

ItIsToLaugh

In 1960, they dropped, sat for a few minutes, couldn't see a thing because of the sediment that kicked up and came back up. This dive will allow an exploration time of up to 3 hours. The craft is manuverable and has millions worth of "bells and whistles".

A whole new ballgame if you ask me.

March 8, 2012 at 2:37 pm |

William

Not to be negative, but I would be afraid to find lots of hazardous or nuclear waste at the bottom. That's its so inaccessible won't have been lost on the dumpers over the decades.

February 29, 2012 at 11:57 am |

(required)

It has been done so low risk but still lot of reason to be scared.

February 29, 2012 at 5:27 pm |

jt_flyer

if you find any treasure, don't waste time, just drop it off in Spain on your way home

February 29, 2012 at 11:49 am |

Poppy

Hahaha! Now that's funny....

February 29, 2012 at 2:22 pm |

saeed

what happens if something goes wrong 11000m down there. there must be some risk with something like this but the submarine that virgin is building is revolutionary, first sub that ever has dived so deep. this man is great people like this are important they keep on pushing the science.

February 29, 2012 at 11:46 am |

juiceday

wrong wrong

February 29, 2012 at 11:55 am |

John

What happens if something goes wrong? You wont even now it happened. Ever see a car crushed into a little cube?

February 29, 2012 at 12:03 pm |

Busted

Not crushed... have you ever seen the ending to Total Recall

February 29, 2012 at 2:32 pm |

Epidi

Implosion!

February 29, 2012 at 12:08 pm |

Josh

Jaques Piccard and Don Walsh may disagree with you.

March 8, 2012 at 12:20 pm |

manny

nice to see James using his talents and finances to contribute to a great cause

February 29, 2012 at 11:41 am |

Michael Chrichton

Suppose there's a deep-sea fish that cures cancer down there?

February 29, 2012 at 12:13 pm |

ElGiblet

No... what you'll find is a fish that says it's helping to cure cancer, but, on the side, it's funding abortions.

February 29, 2012 at 12:30 pm |

Fishy

That' why they go to school all the time.

February 29, 2012 at 12:42 pm |

Wow

You mean like a surgeon sturgeon?

February 29, 2012 at 1:43 pm |

Guesteppi

and what if the cancer curing fish also happens to be delicious. We'll have some really tough choices to make.

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Light Years strives to tell the stories of science research, discovery, space and education. This is your go-to place on CNN.com for today’s stories, but also for a scientific perspective on the news and everyday wonders. Come indulge your curiosity in all things space and science related, brought to you by the entire CNN family.